Davis, Olson advance as Minnesota Teacher of the Year Semifinalists

Monday, Feb. 25 2019 — The field of possible candidates for this year’s Minnesota Teacher of the Year honor has been narrowed to 40, including two South St. Paul educators. A selection panel of 23 community leaders identified Jessica Davis and Luke Olson, both math teachers at South St. Paul Secondary, as semifinalists from an initial field of 168 candidates from across the state.

The panel will next review the semifinalists’ portfolios again and review semifinalist video submissions in late March, from which they will select about 10 finalists. The winner will be announced at a banquet on May 5 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul.

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year honor is the “oldest and most prestigious recognition program in Minnesota to honor excellence in education,” Education Minnesota’s website says. The winner of the honor will represent the profession and serve as an advocate for education and spokesperson for teachers by making presentations, meeting with policymakers and attending meetings.